Heroic Legends Of Ireland Part 19

3. This sentence to the end is taken from the Egerton version, which seems the clearer; the Book of Leinster gives: "What shall I do next, that there be no loss of honour or renown to thee in the matter?"]

{p. 109} A LAND in West Roscommon, as Kerry known of old, Was ruled by Ailill Fair-haired; of him a tale is told: How Flidais,[1] Ailill's [2] consort, each week, and near its end, To R's great son, to Fergus, her herald still would send; 'Twas Fergus' love she sought for; the deeds by Fergus done, In glorious tales recited, had Flidais' fancy won.

When Fergus fled from Ulster, and Connaught's land he sought, To Ailill, king of Connaught, this tale of love he brought: "Now give me rede," said Fergus, "how best we here should act, {10} That Connaught's fame and honour by none may stand attacked; Say, how can I approach them, and strip thy kingdom bare, And yet the fame of Ailill, that country's monarch, spare?"

"'Tis hard indeed to teach thee," cried Ailill, sore perplexed; "Let Maev come nigh with counsel what course to follow next!"

"Send thou to Ailill Fair-haired to ask for aid!" said Maev, "He well may meet a herald, who comes his help to crave Let Fergus go to crave it: no harm can there be seen; And better gifts from Ailill shall Fergus win, I ween!"

[1. p.r.o.nounced Flid-das.

2. p.r.o.nounced Al-ill.]

{p. 110} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

Then Fergus set out thereon, in number thirty men; the two Ferguses ( i.e. Fergus mac Rg, and Fergus mac Oen-lama) and Dubhtach; till they were at the Ford of Fenna in the north of the land of Kerry. They go to the burg, and welcome is brought to them.[1] "What brings you here?" said Ailill Finn. "We had the intention of staying with you on a visit, for we have a quarrel with Ailill the son of Magach."

"If it were one of thy people who had the quarrel, he should stay with me until he had made his peace. But thou shalt not stay," said Ailill Finn, "it has been told me that my wife loves thee!" "We must have a gift of cows then," said Fergus, "for a great need lies on us, even the sustenance of the troop who have gone with me into exile." "Thou shalt carry off no such present from me," he said, "because thou art not remaining with me on a visit. Men will say that it is to keep my wife that I gave thee what thou hast required. I[2] Will give to your company one ox and some bacon to help them, if such is your pleasure." "I will eat not thy bread although offered (lit. however)," said Fergus, "because I can get no present of honour from thee!"

"Out of my house with you all, then!" said Ailill.

"That shall be," said Fergus; "we shall not begin to lay siege to thee and they betake themselves outside.

"Let a man come at once to fight me beside a ford at the gate of this castle!" said Fergus.

[1. The Book of the Dun Cow (Leabhar na h-Uidhri) version begins at this point.

2 L.L. and Egerton make the end of this speech part of the story: "There was given to them one ox with bacon, with as much as they wished of beer, as a feast for them."]

{p. 111} So forth to Ailill Fair-haired went Fergus, son of R; {20} And thirty, Dubhtach[1] leading, he chose with him to go; And yet another Fergus his aid to Fergus brought; Mac Oonlama[2] men called him; his sire one-handed fought.

Beside the Ford of Fenna, in Kerry's north they came, They neared the hold, and from it rang welcome's loud acclaim: "What quest," said Ailill Fair-haired, "hath brought these warriors here?"

"Of Ailill, son of Magach, we stand," they said, "in fear; A feud we hold against him; with thee would fain abide!"

"For each of these," said Ailill, "who Fergus march beside, If they were foes to Connaught, for long they here might stay, {30} And ne'er till peace was granted, I'd drive these men away: For Fergus, naught I grant him a tale of him men tell That Fergus 'tis whom Flidais, my wife, doth love too well!"

"It is kine that I ask for," said Fergus, "and hard is the task on me set: For the men who have marched here beside me, the means to win life I must get."

"I will give no such present," said Ailill," thou comest not here as my guest: Men will say, 'twas from fear that I gave it, lest my wife from my arms thou should'st wrest: Yet an ox of my herds, and some bacon, if thou wilt, shall my hand to thee give; That the men who have marched here beside thee on that meat may be stayed, and may live!"

"I eat no bread thus thrown me!" fierce Fergus straight replied: {40} "I asked a gift of honour; that gift thine hand denied."

"Avoid my house," said Ailill in wrath, "now get thee hence!

"We go indeed," said Fergus; "no siege we now commence: Yet here," he cried, "for duel beside yon ford I wait, If thou canst find a champion to meet me at thy gate."

[1. p.r.o.nounced Doov-ta.

2. Spelt Mac Oenlama, son of the one-handed one.]

{p. 112} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

"That[1] will not for the sake of my honour be refused," said Ailill; "I will not hand it (the strife) over to another: I will go myself," said he. He went to a ford against him. "Which of us," said Fergus, "O Dubhtach, shall encounter this man?" "I will go," said Dubhtach; "I am younger and keener than thou art!" Dubhtach went against Ailill. Dubhtach thrust a spear through Ailill so that it went through his two thighs. He (Ailill) hurled a javelin at Dubhtach, so that he drove the spear right through him, (so that it came out) on the other side.

Fergus threw his s.h.i.+eld over Dubhtach. The former (Ailill) thrust his spear at the s.h.i.+eld of Fergus so that he even drove the shaft right through it. Fergus mac Oen-laimi comes by. Fergus mac Oen-laimi holds a s.h.i.+eld in front of him (the other Fergus). Ailill struck his spear upon this so that it was forced right through it. He leaped so that he lay there on the top of his companions. Flidais comes by from the castle, and throws her cloak over the three.

Fergus' people took to flight; Ailill pursues them. There remain (slain) by him twenty men of them. Seven of them escape to Cruachan Ai, and tell there the whole story to Ailill and Medb.

[1. The end of the speech is from L.L.: the L.U. text gives the whole speech thus: "For my honour's sake, I could not draw back in this matter."]

{p. 113} Then up and answered Ailill: "'Tis mine this strife must be And none shall hurt mine honour, or take this task from me: None hold me back from battle!"--the ford for fight he sought: "Now Dubhtach, say," said Fergus, "to whom this war is brought!

Or thou or I must meet him." And Dubhtach said, "I go; {50} For I am younger, Fergus, and bolder far with foe."

To the ford for the battle with Ailill he hies, And he thrust at him fiercely, and pierced through his thighs; But a javelin by Ailill at Dubhtach was cast, And right through his body the shaft of it pa.s.sed: And a s.h.i.+eld over Dubhtach, laid low in the dust, Spread Fergus; and Ailill his spear at him thrust; And through Fergus' s.h.i.+eld had the spear made its way, When Fergus Mae Oonlama joined in the fray, And his s.h.i.+eld he uplifted, his namesake to guard; {60} But at Fergus Mac Oonlama Ailill thrust hard, And he brake through the fence of Mac Oonlama's s.h.i.+eld; And he leaped in his pain; as they lay on the field, On his comrades he fell: Flidais forth to them flew, And her cloak on the warriors to s.h.i.+eld them she threw.

Then against all the comrades of Fergus turned Ailill the Fair-haired to fight, And he chased them away from his castle, and slew as they scattered in flight; A twenty he reached, and he slew them: they fell, on that field to remain; And but seven there were of that thirty who fled, and their safety could gain: They came to the palace of Croghan, they entered the gates of that hold, {70} And to Maev and to Ailill of Connaught the tale of the slaughter they told.

{p. 114} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

Then Ailill and Medb arise, and the n.o.bles of Connaught and the exiles from Ulster: they march into the district of Kerry Ai with their troops as far as: the Ford of Fenna.

Meanwhile the wounded men were being cared for by Flidais in the castle, and their healing was undertaken by her.

Then the troops come to the castle. Ailill Finn is summoned to Ailill mac Mata to come to a conference with him outside the castle. "I will not go," he said; "the pride and arrogance of that man there is great."

It was,[1] however, for a peaceful meeting that Ailill mac Mata had come to Ailill the Fair-haired, both that he might save Fergus, as it was right he should, and that he might afterwards make peace with him (Ailill Fair haired), according to the will of the lords of Connaught.

Then the wounded men were brought out of the castle, on hand-barrows, that they might be cared for by their own people.

[1. This pa.s.sage is sometimes considered to be an interpolation by a scribe or narrator whose sympathies were with Connaught. The pa.s.sage does not occur in the Book of Leinster, nor in the Egerton MS.]

{p. 115} Then roused himself King Ailill, of Connaught's land the king, With Maev to march to battle, their aid to friends to bring: And forth from Connaught's kingdom went many a lord of worth, Beside them marched the exiles who gat from Ulster birth: So forward went that army, and reached to Kerry's land, And near the Ford of Fenna they came, and there made stand.

While this was done, the wounded three Within the hold lay still, And Flidais cared for all, for she {80} To heal their wounds had skill.

To Ailill Fair-Haired's castle the Connaught host was led, And toward the foeman's ramparts the Connaught herald sped; He called on Ailill Fair-haired to come without the gate, And there to meet King Ailill, and with him hold debate.

"I come to no such meeting," the angry chief replied; "Yon man is far too haughty: too grossly swells his pride!"

Yet 'twas peaceful meeting, So the old men say, Ailill willed; whose greeting {90} Heralds bore that day.

Fergus, ere he perished, First he sought to aid He that thought who cherished Friends.h.i.+p's claims obeyed: Then his foe he vainly Hoped in truce to bind: Peace, 'tis said, was plainly Dear to Connaught's mind!

The wounded men, on litters laid, {100} Without the walls they bore To friendly hands, with skill to aid, And fainting health restore.

{p. 116} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

Then the men attack him (Ailill Finn): while they are storming the castle, and they could get no hold on him, a full week long went it thus with them. Seven times twenty heroes from among the n.o.bles of Connaught fell during the time that they (endeavoured) to storm the castle of Ailill the Fair-haired.

"It was with no good omen that with which you went to this castle," said Bricriu. "True indeed is the word that is spoken," said Ailill mac Mata. "The expedition is bad for the honour of the Ulstermen, in that their three heroes fall, and they take not vengeance for them. Each one (of the three) was a pillar of war, yet not a single man has fallen at the hands of one of the three! Truly these heroes are great to be under such wisps of straw as axe the men of this castle! Most worthy is it of scorn that one man has wounded you three!"

"O woe is me," said Bricriu, "long is the length upon the ground of my Papa Fergus, since one man in single combat laid him low!"

{p. 117} At the castle of Ailill the Fair-Haired the Connaught-men rushed in attack, And to win it they failed: from his ramparts in defeat were his foes driven back: For long in that contest they struggled, yet naught in the fight they prevailed - For a week were the walls of the castle of Ailill the Fair-Haired a.s.sailed, Seven score of the n.o.bles of Connaught, and all of them warriors of might, For the castle of Ailill contended, and fell as they strove in the fight.

{110} "'Tis sure that with omen of evil this castle was sought by our folk!"

Thus Bricroo,[1] the Poisonous Scoffer, in mockery, jeering them, spoke: "The taunt," answered Ailill Mae Mata, "is true, and with grief I confess That the fame of the heroes of Ulster hereafter is like to be less, For a three of the Ulstermen's champions in stress of the fight have been quelled; And the vengeance we wait for from Ulster hath long been by Ulster withheld; As a pillar of warfare each hero, 'twas claimed, could a battle sustain; Yet by none of the three in this battle hath a foeman been conquered, or slain!

{120} In the future for all of these champions shall scorn and much mocking befall: One man hath come forth from yon castle; alone he hath wounded them all-- Such disgrace for such heroes of valour no times that are past ever saw, For three lords of the battle lie conquered by mannikins, fas.h.i.+oned of straw!"

"Ah! woe is me," said Bricroo, "how long, thus stretched on ground, The length of Father Fergus hath here by all been found!

But one he sought to conquer; a single fight essayed, And here he met his victor, and low on land is laid."

[1. Spelt Bricriu. The usual epithet of Bricriu, "Bricriu of the Poison Tongue," is indicated in the verse rendering.]

{p. 118} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

Then the champions of Ulster arise, naked as they were, and make a strong and obstinate attack in their rage and in the might of their violence, so that they forced in the outer gateway till it was in the midst of the castle, and the men of Connaught go beside them. They storm the castle with great might against the valiant warriors who were there. A wild pitiless battle is fought between them, and each man begins to strike out against the other, and to destroy him.

Then, after they had wearied of wounding and overcoming one another, the people of the castle were overthrown, and the Ulstermen slay seven hundred warriors there in the castle with Ailill the Fair-Haired and thirty of his sons; and Amalgaid the Good;[1] and Nado; and Fiacho Muinmethan (Fiacho the Broad-backed); and Corpre Cromm (the Bent or Crooked); and Ailill from Brefne; and the three Oengus Bodbgnai (the Faces of Danger); and the three Eochaid of Irross (i.e. Irross Donnan); and the seven Breslene from Ai; and the fifty Domnall.

[1. "The Good" is in the Book of Leinster and the Egerton text, not in the Leabhar na h-Uidhri: the two later texts omit Nado.]

{p. 119} Then rose the men of Ulster a hardy war to wage, And forward rushed, though naked, in strong and stubborn rage: Against the castle gateway in wrathful might they dashed, And down the shattered portal within the castle crashed.

Then close by Ulster's champions was Connaught's battle formed; {130} And Connaught's troops with Ulster by might the castle stormed; But fitly framed for battle were men whom there they met, Wild war, where none showed pity between the hosts was set: And well they struck; each hero commenced with mighty blows To crush and slay, destruction was heaped by foe on foes.

Of the wounding at length and the slaughter all weary the champions had grown, And the men who the castle of Ailill had held were at length over thrown: Of those who were found in that castle, and its walls had defended so well, Seven hundred by warriors of Ulster were smitten to death, and they fell: And there in his castle fell Ailill the Fair-haired, and fighting he died, {140} And a thirty of sons stood about him, and all met their death by his side.

The chief of those who perished, by Ailill's side who stood Within his hold, were Noodoo;[1] and Awley[2] named the Good; And Feeho[3] called the Broad-backed; and Corpre Cromm the Bent; An Ailill, he from Breffny to help of Ailill went; A three whose name was Angus-fierce was each warrior's face; Three Eochaid, sea-girt Donnan[4] had cradled erst their race; And there fell seven Breslen, from plains of Ay[5] who came; And fifty fell beside them who all had Donnell's name.

[1. Spelt Nuado.

2. Spelt Amalgaid.

3. Spelt Fiacho.

4. Irross Donnan, the promontory of Donnan (now Mayo).

5. Mag Ai, a plain in Roscommon.]

{p. 120} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

For the a.s.sembly of the Gamanrad were with Ailill, and each of the men of Domnan who had bidden himself to come to him to aid him: they were in the same place a.s.sembled in his castle; for he knew that the exiles from Ulster and Ailill and Medb with their army would come to him to demand the surrender of Fergus, for Fergus was under their protection.

This was the third race of heroes in Ireland, namely the Clan Gamanrad of Irross Donnan (the peninsula of Donnan), and (the other two were) the Clan Ddad in Temair Lochra, and the Clan Rudraige in Emain Macha. But both the other clans were destroyed by the Clan Rudraige.

But the men of Ulster arise, and with them the people of Medb and of Ailill; and they laid waste the castle, and take Flidais out of the castle with them, and carry off the women of the castle into captivity; {p. 121} For to Ailill the Fair-Haired for warfare had marched all the Gamanra[1] clan, {150} And his friends from the sea-girded Donnan had sent to his aid every man; All these had with Ailill been leaguered, their help to him freely they brought, And that aid from them Ailill. took gladly, he knew that his hold would be sought; He knew that the exiles of Ulster his captives from prison would save, And would come, their surrender demanding; that Ailill mac Mata and Maev Would bring all Connaught's troops to the rescue: for Fergus that aid they would lend, And Fergus the succour of Connaught could claim, and with right, as a friend.

Hero clans in Erin three of old were found; One in Irross Donnan, oceans Donnan bound, Thence came Clan Gamanra;[1] Dda's warlike clan {160} Nursed in Tara Loochra[2] many a fighting man.

Dda sprang from Munster; far in Ulster's north Oft from Emain Macha Rury's[3] clan went forth: Vainly all with Rury strove to fight, the twain Rury's clan hath vanquished; Rury all hath slain!

Then rose up the warriors of Ulster, the hold they had conquered to sack; And the folk of Queen Maev and King Ailill followed close on the Ulstermen's track: And they took with them captives; for Flidais away from her castle they tore; And the women who dwelt in the castle away to captivity bore: [1. Spelt Gamanrad.

2. Temair Luachra, an ancient palace near Abbeyfeale, on the borders of the counties of Limerick and Kerry. "Tara," as is well known, is a corruption of Temair, but is now established.

3. Spelt Rudraige.]

{p. 122} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

and they take with them all the costly things and the treasures that were there, gold and silver, and horns, and drinking cups, and keys, and vats; and they take what there was of garments of every colour, and they take what there was of kine, even a hundred milch-cows, and a hundred and forty oxen, and thirty hundred of little cattle.

And after these things had been done, Flidais went to Fergus mac Rg according to the decree of Ailill and Medb, that they might thence have sustenance (lit. that their sustenance might be) on the occasion of the Raid of the Cows of Cualgne. As[1] a result of this, Flidais was accustomed each seventh day from the produce of her cows to support the men of Ireland, in order that during the Raid she might provide them with the means of life. This then was the Herd of Flidais.

In consequence[2] of all this Flidais went with Fergus to his home, and he received the lords.h.i.+p of a part of Ulster, even Mag Murthemni (the plain of Murthemne), together with that which had been in the hands of Cuchulain, the son of Sualtam. So Flidais died after some time at Trag Bli (the sh.o.r.e of Bali), and the state of Fergus' household was none the better for that. For she used to supply all Fergus' needs whatsoever they might be (lit. she used to provide for Fergus every outfit that he desired for himself). Fergus died after some time in the land of Connaught, after the death of his wife, [1. L.L. and Egerton give "For him used every seventh day," &c.

2. L.L. and Egerton give "thereafter," adopted in verse translation.]

{p. 123} And all things therein that were precious they seized on as booty; the gold {170} And the silver they seized, and the treasures ama.s.sed by the men of that hold: The horns, and the goblets for drinking, the vats for the ale, and the keys, The gay robes with all hues that were glowing lay there for the raiders to seize: And much cattle they took; in that castle were one hundred of milk giving kine; And beside them a seven score oxen; three thousand of sheep and of swine.

Then Flidais went with Fergus, his wedded wife to be; For thus had Maev and Ailill p.r.o.nounced their high decree: They bade that when from Cualgne to drive the kine they went, From those who then were wedded should aid for war be sent.

And thus it fell thereafter: when Ireland went that Raid, {180} By milk from cows of Flidais, the lives of all were stayed; Each seventh day she sent it; and thus fulfilled her vows, And thus the tale is ended, men tell of Flidais' Cows.

Then, all that Raid accomplished, with Fergus Flidais dwell And he of Ulster's kingdom a part in lords.h.i.+p held: He ruled in Mag I Murthemne, yea, more than that, he won The land where once was ruler Cuchulain, Sualtam's son: And by the sh.o.r.e of Bli thereafter Flidais died, And naught of good for Fergus did Flidais' death betide: For worse was all his household; if Fergus aught desired, {190} From Flidais' wealth and bounty came all his soul required.

In the days that followed, when his wife was dead, Fergus went to Connaught; there his blood was shed: [1. p.r.o.nounced Maw Moortemmy (?)]

{p. 124} LITERAL TRANSLATION.

after he had gone there to obtain knowledge of a story. For, in order to cheer himself, and to fetch home a grant of cows from Ailill and Medb, he had gone westwards to Cruachan, so that it was in consequence of this journey that he found his death in the west, through the jealousy of Ailill.

This, then, is the story of the Tain bo Flidais; it[1] is among the preludes of the Tain bo Cualnge.

[1. This sentence does not occur in the Leabhar na h-Uidhri. It is given as in the Egerton version: the Book of Leinster gives "it is among the preludes of the Tain."]

{p. 200} There with Maev and Ailill he a while would stay; Men had made a story, he would learn the lay!

There he went to cheer him, hearing converse fair: Kine beside were promised; home he these would bear: So he went to Croghan, 'twas a deadly quest, There he found his slaughter, death within the west: Slain by jealous Ailill, Fergus low was laid: {200} Flidais' tale is ended: now comes Cualgne's Raid!

{p. 129} THE APPARITION OF THE GREAT QUEEN TO CUCHULAIN.

(TAIN BO REGAMNA).